Flexible container and means for facilitating the filling thereof



May 1, I928.

c. F. DAWSON FLEXIBLE CONTAINER .AND MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE FILLING THEREOF Filed April 26, 1923 Patented May 1, 1928.

y, UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CECIL 1r. DAwsoN, ornAs'roN, rE NsY vANIA, ASSIGNOR r0 INDIVIDUAL DRINKING cur COMPANY, me, or EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, a CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VAHIA.

rLnxraLI: GONTAINEB AND MEANS r03 FACILITATING THE FILLING runner.

Applicatiop filed April 2c, 1923. serial No. 634,827.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices and more particularly to flexible paper containers of an inexpensive character intended for but a single service, and adapted to contain ice cream, water ices, and the like associated with means for temporarily reinforcing the mouth portion of the container to facilitate the filling of the latter.

It has become a well known practice to dispense refreshments such as ice cream and ices in open or relatively exposed places such as ball parks, fairs, and on the street, where the user cannot or perhaps has no inclination to be particular concerning the condition of his hands. It is in thisdesirable field of service, more especially, to which my invention relates, although it is not in any senselimited to such field. It is my aim to pro- 0 vide a container that'will befas cheap as possible in its construction and manufacture, but thoroughly efficient in protecting the contents being dispensed from contact with the hands, and while sufliciently strong to 5 support the contents without leakage, will at the same time be highly flexible to permit ready changing of its shape so that the mouth "of the container may be contoured as desired to-the mouth of the user and thus such as herein contemplated. They usually have butfew pennies to spend and it will be clear that the provision of a sanitary dispenser to meet t very insignificant amount. They must be made in great quantities, with great simplicity, but always with regard to efficiency, and here the more serious consideration resides in the'formation of the bottom of the container which will normally perform its supporting and sealing functions while at the same time permitting collapse, or crushing as the hands of the user presses the cone ends to which I have just alluded, must in themselves cost asupported.

tainer from without to expel the contents from within.

. In producing a container in keeping with the objects herein expressed, a good paper impervious to a suitable degree may be utilized, but the same of necessity must be of very thin character, and light weight to minimize thecost, and to provide the high degree of flexibility enabling its'proper ma nipulation in the hands of the user. However, this high degree of flexibility is such as to be incapable of withstanding the application of extraneous objects such as a spoon orladle in filling the container. It will be recalled that in dispensing ice cream or water ice, the salesman customarily dips his spoon into the freezer and then turns the same over with its contents to drop the latter into the container, wiping the spoon across the object of the container toinsure complete liberation. of the spoon contents. While this operation is effective when the spoon or equivalent implement engages a container having a hard or stiff edge such as in aporcelain, composite, or metal dish, the operation would be immediately destructive if followed in the case of my flexible container. inforcing. implement hereinbefore'. mentioned, the same being broadly in the nature of a ring-like band or equivalent member, formed of appropriate material, conveniently of metal, adapted to be removablyinsert- Therefore, I haveprovided the reed preferably into the mouth of the paper -movable attachment such as I have last indicated provided with a handle or gripping portion to be grasped by the salesman or one serving the cream or ice so that his hands may not touch or contaminate the matter being dispensed; and the same underlying thought may be found embodied in the provision of another form of attachment in the nature of the fixture relatively permanently From the foregoing, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the present invention appertains, that the same may find practical embodiment in various forms and devices, as may be embraced within the scope of the hereto appended claims, but for the sake of imparting a better understanding of the invention, 1 have illustrated in the accompanying drawings the two preferred embodiments thereof, with additional illustrations of changes and illustrations in the construction thereof, all as will be clear from the following description when read in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the paper container;

Figure 2 is a similar view, parts being broken away showing the application of the container to the reinforcing means adapted to temporarily strengthen the mouth of the container during the filling operation;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the container and reinforcing device;

Figures 4:, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating various ways of forming the upper or exposed edge of the reinforced device;

Figure 8 is aperspective view of the modified form of reinforcing device adapted for relative permanent fastening to a supporting wall, counter, and cart, or like conveyor; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the container in its squeezed or crushed condition and flattened at the mouth for engagement with the lips of the user.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, 2 represents the body of a paper container of such an impervious nature as to withstand the single service for which it is intended, and formed of a single piece of thin and correspondingly highly flexible material, having its edges cemented together as at 3, the body'preferably tapering in the downward direction, and of circular cross section. Owing to the flexibility of the body its capability of resisting external pressure is practically nil and in fact the character of the body may be defined as practically incapable in itself of maintaining its intended circular cross section, as best suggested in Figure 1.

This is mentioned to emphasize the degree of flexibility that the container is intended to possess.

The bottom of the container is represented at 4, the same being of circular form and possessing an upturned flange 5 cemented to the interior surface of the body so that the bottom will be slightly above the lower edge of the container so that if the container is temporarily rested on any object, the same may avoid any slight elevations or obstructions. This bottom is of the same highly flexible thin material stiffened as an inherent result of its circular contour with the upstanding flange, constituting the same an adequate support for the container contents. The arrangement of the upturned flange is such as to have the same conform in its application to the container body evenly to the interior surface of the body and a strong cement is usc'd in uniting the flange and body so that the holding capacity of the cemented portions will be so strong that they will withstand more than the capacity of the paper stock of the body and bottom in tearing or puncturing strains and pressures. In

this way I am sure that the container may.

be squeezed and crushed in the hand sothat all of the contents may be expelled, after the fashion, crudely speaking, of the manipulation of a flexible container for tooth paste and similar articles found on the market. The idea is illustrated in Figure 9 where the container is shown partially squeezed at the bottom, the latter crushing and bending up with great facility for the purpose, and the mouth of the container flattened to be introduced into the mouth of the user, it being appreciated that the lips of the latter will find a pleasing, smooth and clean engagement with the outer surface of the paper in freeing the contents from the container.

Now, as to the filling of the, container, it is readily seen that it would be most diflicult to use a spoon or equivalent implement in delivering cream or ice to be dispensed directly into the paper container, and to create an ease and nicety in this dispensing operation,,I provide a metal ring or band 6 of a size complemental to the size of the mouth of the container and tapering in accordance with the taper of the bod' adapted to be introduced into the mouth 0 the body as shown. open, it being understood that the container will be held to the band by the fingers of the server, and the band will give a stiff or rigid edge on which to scrape the spoon. Preferably the band has its upper edge This will hold the container llO flanged as at 7 so as to rest upon the upper edge of the body, this flange being shown of differing shapes, subject to the will of the user as clearly understood from Figures 5, 6 and 7 wherein the modified flanges are depicted at 8, 9 and 10, respectively, Figure 4 at 11, illustrating the device with a relatively sharp edge or an edge devoid of any flange whatever. i

A handle 12 is formed to be carried by the reinforcing ring to assist in the introduction and withdrawal of the latter from the paper container, it having been found that the ring may be readily slipped out from the contalner contents by slipping away from the latter. The handle renders the device sanitary in every particular in that the ring or band need not be touched by possibly soiled fingers.

In Figure 8 the ring or band, here represented at 13, in lieu of the handle of the first illustrated, embodiment of the invention, has an angular bracket 14 projected therefrom to be detachably secured as at 15 in any convenient position. In the use of this permanent fixture, so to speak, the

paper containers may be individually removed from their sanitary cartons or other casing and slipped by the hand over the ring or band and there held by a slight ressure of the thumb and forefinger until lled from the spoon or dipper manipulated by the other hand of the server and emptied by the engagement of the same with the rim or edge of the holder as herein clearly set forth.

Up to the present I have referred to the preferable introduction of the reinforcing ring or band into the container,but there will be instances where it will be of advantage, and it is altogether practical, to slip the container into the ring so that the latter ring provided with dependent fingers or openwork portion, or other spaced projections may serve uite efliciently althou h the band would standpoint of sanitation in being smooth and readily cleaned and offering no recesses, crevices, or perforations for the accumulation of germs or dirt.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

1. A ring adapted to extend into the mouth of a flexible walled receptacle a comparatively short distance to reinforce the same when filling the receptacle, the open filling end of the ring being substantially coterminous with the open end of the rece tacle so that the receptacle charge may e dropped directly into the receptacle on scraping the charge from a charge carrying implement against the open end of the fillmg ring.

2. A ring adapted to extend into the mouth of a flexible walled receptacle a comparatively short distance to reinforce the same when filling the receptacle, the open filling end of the ring being substantially coterminous with the open end of the receptacle so that the receptacle charge may be dropped directly into the receptacle on scraping the charge from a charge carrying implement against the open end of the filling ring, and a narrow flange on the filling end of the ring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

011011; F. DAWSON.

preferable from t o out because it will be instantly seen that a 

